Ian Somerhalder
Biography
Ian Somerhalder, born December 8, 1978, in Covington, Louisiana, USA, is an American male who began his professional life as a model before moving into acting and production. He is widely recognized for his television work, most notably portraying Damon Salvatore in the series The Vampire Diaries and Boone Carlyle in Lost. In addition to his on‑screen career, Somerhalder established the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, reflecting his commitment to environmental and humanitarian causes. He is also credited under the name Ian Joseph Somerhalder and has accumulated 45 known acting credits across film and television.
Career overview
Ian Somerhalder launched his career in the entertainment industry as a model, a role that provided his initial exposure to the public eye. Leveraging his modeling experience, he transitioned to acting, where he quickly secured roles that would define his professional identity. His portrayal of Boone Carlyle on the television series Lost brought him early recognition, while his later performance as Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries solidified his status as a prominent figure in contemporary television drama. Beyond his on‑screen performances, Somerhalder expanded his involvement in the industry by taking on production responsibilities, reflecting a broader interest in the creative process. Over the course of his career he has amassed a total of 45 credited appearances across film and television, encompassing both acting and producing contributions. In addition to his entertainment work, he founded the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, an organization dedicated to environmental stewardship and humanitarian initiatives, demonstrating a commitment to advocacy that extends beyond his artistic endeavors. Somerhalder is also listed under the alternate name Ian Joseph Somerhalder in industry databases, ensuring that his full body of work is accurately attributed. The breadth of his 45 known credits illustrates a versatile portfolio that spans multiple genres and formats, reinforcing his reputation as a multifaceted contributor to film and television.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Groundswell (2026) as Narrator (voice)
- Hot Ones Versus (2024) as Self
- Live from the Other Side with Tyler Henry (2024) as Self
- Getting LOST (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- LOST: Circle (2023) as Boone Carlyle
- Common Ground (2023) as Self
- Common Ground (2023) Executive Producer
- Kiss the Ground (2020) as Self
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- V Wars (2019) as Luther Swann
- V Wars (2019) Director
- Nature Is Speaking (2015) as Coral Reef
- The Anomaly (2014) as Harkin
- Generation Like (2014) as Self
- Caught on Tape (2013) as Officer Lewis
- How to Make Love to a Woman (2010) as Daniel
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- The Vampire Diaries (2009) as Damon Salvatore
- The Vampire Diaries (2009) Director
- Fireball (2009) as Lee Cooper
- Wake (2009) as Tyler
- The Tournament (2009) as Miles Slade
- The Lost Samaritan (2008) as William Archer
- Lost City Raiders (2008) as Jack Kubiak
- Tell Me You Love Me (2007) as Nick
- Marco Polo (2007) as Marco Polo
- Marco Polo (2007) as Marco Polo
- Pulse (2006) as Dexter
- The Sensation of Sight (2006) as Drifter
- National Lampoon's TV: The Movie (2006) as Guy
- Lost (2004) as Boone Carlyle
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self
- In Enemy Hands (2004) as Danny Miller
- CSI: Miami (2002) as Ricky Murdoch
- The Rules of Attraction (2002) as Paul Denton
- Changing Hearts (2002) as Jason Kelly
- Smallville (2001) as Adam Knight
- Life as a House (2001) as Josh
- Anatomy of a Hate Crime (2001) as Russell Henderson
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Tony Del Nagro
- Young Americans (2000) as Hamilton Fleming
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Charlie Baker
- Now and Again (1999) as Brian
- Teen Choice Awards (1999) as Self
- Teen Choice Awards (1999) as Self - Presenter
- The Big Easy (1996) as I. Q.
- People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self - Presenter
- Fearless as Jordan Gracie